Staff Spotlight

Keondra Drye completes yearlong county leadership programKeondra Drye, human resources coordinator, recently completed Leadership Stanly (LS) a yearlong program for the business and community leaders in Stanly County sponsored by the Stanly Chamber of Commerce.

Leadership Stanly engages current and emerging leaders through the chamber’s program and ongoing networking and service opportunities. Each year LS recruits committed individuals interested in learning more about their county and connecting with fellow leaders. Through innovative programming, LS teaches these engaged citizens about the challenges and opportunities facing North Carolina and offers tools to turn their knowledge into action for the benefit of the state.

“Keondra has been a great LS participant, a vital part of her class and I have really enjoyed getting to know her,” said Tom Ramseur, president and CEO of the Stanly County Chamber of Commerce.

Drye was in a class among 24 other business and community leaders. The 2013 class will receive their completion certificates on Wednesday, May 22 during a special ceremony at The Boardroom Bar & Bistro.

MERAC inaugural board honoredIn recognition of their efforts to positively affect employee morale by being ambassadors for positive employee relations, each member of the inaugural Monarch Employee Recognition and Appreciation Committee (MERAC) was recently recognized with beautifully embossed personalized plaques during a special ceremony. Terri Bernhardt, chief administrative officer; and Jim Kelley, chief operating officer, attended the commemorative event.

Those who served as the first MERAC committee members include (pictured right): Diane Bowden, Rebecca Chasteen, Kristie Cobb, Keondra Drye, Tommie Efird, Jackie McGowen, Julie Modde, Kathy Osteen and Bob Terhune. Not pictured: Selenia Hinson and Gloria Hunder. To view more images from the day, visit Monarch's Facebook page. Click "like" while there.

“As chair of MERAC, it has been a pleasure working with each of these committee members as they completed their two-year service terms,” shared Leonard Covington, human resources manager. “It is with honor that we esteem each of them with this perpetual flame token of appreciation.

In addition to other duties, members from MERAC, who represent all regions throughout the agency, select nominees for the coveted Dream-Maker Award. The group approved in excess of 100 award nominations during their two-year tenure. Covington said recruitment efforts to seat their replacements are now underway. A formal announcement of the next committee representatives is forthcoming.

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Established in 1958, Monarch provides support statewide to thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, mental illness and substance use disorders. The organization is nationally accredited by The Joint Commission and The Council on Quality and Leadership (CQL). Monarch operates The Arc of Stanly County, which is a chapter of The Arc of North Carolina and The Arc of the United States.